The Pittsburgh region has a robust network of organizations and people that prioritize healthy, sustainable, and just food. The Pittsburgh Good Food Coalition is working to ensure that large, publicly-funded institutions with spending power reflect these community values through their food purchasing standards.

Pittsburgh Public School District is the second largest district in the state of Pennsylvania, serving roughly 26,000 meals per day, spending approximately $6 million on food annually. Staff at the PPS Food Service Department have been diligent and vital members of the Pittsburgh Good Food Coalition, and in 2020 the Good Food Purchasing Program was included in the district’s five year strategic plan.

In 2020, a coalition core including the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, UPMC Children’s Hospital, Allegheny County Health Department, PPS Food Service Department, and a middle school PTA began meeting to plan policy adoption at the school district.

In February 2021, the Pittsburgh Good Food Coalition hosted national partners from the Center for Good Food Purchasing, HEAL Food Alliance, and Food Chain Workers Alliance to share Program insights and impacts with a larger group of potential coalition members.

On October 27th, 2021, after members of the coalition core submitted public testimonials in support of the policy, Pittsburgh Public Schools passed the Good Food Purchasing Policy.